Broken thumb - am I being impatient?

[Still Mulling]

Hi Folks. Seeking some advice, please.

I broke a sesamoid bone in my thumb (non-dominant hand) nearly 5 weeks ago and, while the swelling has mostly gone down, it's still very painful at times.

I try not to use it through the day but it is soft-splinted not plastered, so I inevitably put it to some tasks.

When I wake in the morning it feels like flexibility is beginning to return, but through the day, and particularly in the evenings, there's a tangible increase in both steady dull-ache and unpredictable flash-pains. I'm also getting flashes of pain into the joint above the break.

Recovery is quoted as 6-8 weeks, so my key question is: should I seek a follow up, as it's rather important appendage for daily functioning(!), or am I just being impatient?

Thanks in advance!

[NDA]

How old are you?

I'm no expert, although I've broken enough bones. Age is a big factor in speed of recovery.

[Still Mulling]

NDA said:

How old are you?

I'm no expert, although I've broken enough bones. Age is a big factor in speed of recovery.

Early 40s.

[Speckle]

If it were me, I'd follow up. It may be nothing to worry about but, having a medical professional confirm it would be reassuring if nothing else.

On the other hand (no pun intended) if it isn't nothing, then you've done the right thing.

[Huntsman]

I broke a thumb, it was in a cast, after 3 weeks I thought I knew best and removed the cast.

All I can say is I'm a fking idiot and I got multiple bkings at home and at hospital.

Be patient.

[Still Mulling]

Huntsman said:

I broke a thumb, it was in a cast, after 3 weeks I thought I knew best and removed the cast.

All I can say is I'm a fking idiot and I got multiple bkings at home and at hospital.

Be patient.

Do you mind sharing what complications you experienced? (Other than earache!)

[Huntsman]

Still Mulling said:

Huntsman said:

I broke a thumb, it was in a cast, after 3 weeks I thought I knew best and removed the cast.

All I can say is I'm a fking idiot and I got multiple bkings at home and at hospital.

Be patient.

Do you mind sharing what complications you experienced? (Other than earache!)

I got bkings at home, triage, xray and fracture clinic, apparently its always men that cut of casts early.

When I took the cast off the whole hand and wrist was really sore and stiff, no strength, but after another 3 weeks in a second cast it was just the same. I could have just been really careful and I think I'd have got away with it.

I was 40ish, it takes a long time to get fully back up to strength, you just have to be patient.

[NDA]

Still Mulling said:

NDA said:

How old are you?

I'm no expert, although I've broken enough bones. Age is a big factor in speed of recovery.

Early 40s.

I just looked up typical recovery times for this fracture or break - 3-6 months is common. Complete immobilisation is the other mention!

I'd wait a bit longer and then maybe talk to your GP.

[Still Mulling]

Thanks Folks. 3-6 months! Guess I'd best reset my expectations from those given by the NHS, in that case

[Tagteam]

I did a finger and it seemed to take ages to heal properly. Quite a few months

[The_Doc]

I work with bones.

Keep it moving, stifness is the enemy, but give it much much longer.

[craig1912]

I had a left thumb P1 shaft fracture on 27 September and was discharged on 15 December. Had similar symptoms and it was never plastered. Saw a hand therapist who gave me some exercises but 10-12 weeks and it was OK. Back to full strength now.

[Caddyshack]

I amputated my pinkie finger coming up to 2yrs ago. After 1 yr it just wouldn’t heal the joint as the knuckle lost too much bone so I had it fused. 1 yr in and I contacted the surgeon today as it still gives lots of pain…I wonder if they will shorten it?

[Still Mulling]

Thanks Folks.

The_Doc: I keep it wiggling in the soft-splint through the day and take the splint off overnight. I’m probably doing too much with it during the day, but it’s difficult not to with kids to run around after!

Edited by Still Mulling on Friday 27th March 08:10

[The_Doc]

Caddyshack said:

I amputated my pinkie finger coming up to 2yrs ago. After 1 yr it just wouldn t heal the joint as the knuckle lost too much bone so I had it fused. 1 yr in and I contacted the surgeon today as it still gives lots of pain I wonder if they will shorten it?

Lots of options to discuss. Shortening is not nearly as defunctioning as it sounds.
I know two surgeons with short fingers. One is a Professor of hand surgery and has half an index finger.

[Caddyshack]

The_Doc said:

Caddyshack said:

I amputated my pinkie finger coming up to 2yrs ago. After 1 yr it just wouldn t heal the joint as the knuckle lost too much bone so I had it fused. 1 yr in and I contacted the surgeon today as it still gives lots of pain I wonder if they will shorten it?

Lots of options to discuss. Shortening is not nearly as defunctioning as it sounds.
I know two surgeons with short fingers. One is a Professor of hand surgery and has half an index finger.

Thank you. A few times I mentioned just taking the top off as it kept dislocating and had zero sensation, they said that was not something they wanted to consider. The surgeon was from Malaysia and he said if we were there he would have whipped it off the day I came in and was “on a hiding to nothing”.

I get that I lose some grip strength but it’s my non dominant hand and I don’t lift much with it due to it being uncomfortable anyway.

[The_Doc]

There is very rapid transferance of grip completion and power to the next digit over, in all but the Little finger.
Strangely (well not to me, this is my bag) the worst fingers to loose are Thumb by a country mile, then Little, then the others

Go and talk to a Hand Surgeon for all this

[Caddyshack]

The_Doc said:

There is very rapid transferance of grip completion and power to the next digit over, in all but the Little finger.
Strangely (well not to me, this is my bag) the worst fingers to loose are Thumb by a country mile, then Little, then the others

Go and talk to a Hand Surgeon for all this

Thanks, just come off the phone to them. They have advised a month of de-sensitising exercises as they think it could still be nerves re growing and after that we will talk again. Thanks for your input.

I didn’t understand the first sentence fully, it is my little finger so if they take off the tip to where the first knuckle used to be (I no longer have that knuckle as it’s fused) I would lose a lot of grip?

[The_Doc]

Some, and up to 20% if you take the whole finger off.
But if yours ain't working at the tip, then you could contend that removal of the non functional bit will not knock you back.

Questions a for a hand surgeon, face to face.

[Nicetobenice]

Still Mulling said:

Thanks Folks.

The_Doc: I keep it wiggling in the soft-splint through the day and take the splint off overnight. I m probably doing too much with it during the day, but it s difficult not to with kids to run around after!

Edited by Still Mulling on Friday 27th March 08:10

As a further comment make sure you follow any rehab plan you are given.

I broke mine a few years ago and it's not been quite the same since.

I open a packet of crisps like a ham fisted child and have to really make a conscious thought for certain stuff that would have been entirely natural previously